Electric shaver



Oct. 25, 1938. c.w. HAY' 9 ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Feb. *7, 1938 2 Sheets- Sheet L ATTORNEYS Oct. 25 1938. c w Y 2,134,609

ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Feb. '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 25 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC simvnn Charles w.- Hay, Great Falls, Mont. Application February 7, 1938, Serial No. 189,19 8 Claims. '(01. 30-43) This invention relates to electric shavers and has for an object to provide a shaver which will promote a cleaner shave in less time than conventional shavers, this advantage being obtained by a novel stationary and a novel reversible rotary cutter, adapted to exert a shearing cut on beard close to the roots without irritating the skin.

A further object is to provide a shaver which will embody a housing for the motor, which housing forms a handle for the shaver and terminates in a novel enlarged knob of greater diameter than the housing, by means of which the shaver may be more readily manipulated over the beard than conventional shavers.

A further object is to provide an electric shaver having novel means-for tensioning the cutters without the use of re'silient devices of any type. A further object is to provide novel cutters hich by virtue of their construction are more rigid andhave less thickness than conventional cutters. g

A further object is to provide a shaver having a beveled surface on. the base block which coacts with the flange on the stationary cutter to provide a pocket for refuse beard.

A further object is to provide a shaver having a reversible motor by means of which the cutters may be keptself-sharpened.

A further object is to provide novel cutters,-

pillow plate and base block having interfitting half rings and grooves forming an oil and dust check as well as performing the addition-a1 function of properly aligning the parts.

" A further object is to provide a shaver which will be formed of afew strong simple and durable parts; which'will be inexpensive tolmanufacture, and which order.

A further object isto provide a shaver having a rotary cutter mechanism with two sides and two sets of cutters, identical in design but will not easily get outof having shoulders of'd iflerent depth to meet the; shaving requirements of different types of beard.

Another object is to provide a. duplicate set of stationary cutters together with peripheral flanges'integral therewith with cam slots and control lugs integral with the flanges, the dupli cate parts being; identical in design and telescopically interchangeable on the base block of the housing but otherwise differing inthat the cutter bars and the slots between the bars are of difierent sizes as to width and depth to meet the knob forming a grip the shaving requirements of diflerent types vof b'eard.

A further object is to provide a rotary hair clipping attachment interchangeable on the pillow plate 'and squared projection thereon, and 5 also to provide a stationary hair clipping attachment together with the flange and that part of the tension mechanism integral thereto, this hair clipping attachment being interchangeable telescopically on the' base block of the housing, the 10 substitution of these two attachments transforming the machine into an efficient hair clipper. With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully, describedand claimed, it being understood that various modifications may he resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from 'the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electric shaver constructed in accordance with the invention.

.Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the stationary cutter. p

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the rotary cutter.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the tensioning means for regulating the tension of the cutters.

Figure 5 isan enlargedcross sectional view taken' on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 with parts broken away. i

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 and showing the reinforcing ring-of the stationary cutter in top plan.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line i-1 of Figure 1 showing the squared socket in the rotary cutter iorreceiving the square projection on the end of the motor shaft.

Figure 8 is a fragmentaryside elevation showing a modified form of the'station-ary cutter together with a specially constructed clipper flange forming a stationary attachment telescopically interchangeable with the standard equipment on the base block of the housing, and suit- 50 able for the clipp' g of hair as distinguished from the shaving of beard.

clipping attachment suitable for the clipping of hair as distinguished from the shaving of beard and interchangeable as an attachment with the standard. equipment on the pillow plate and squared projection thereon.

Figure 11' is a detail sectional view showing the" slotted control lug and eye bolt for supporting of greater diameter than the housing is screw edges 24 of which are beveled to provide cutting edges. As best shown in Figure 12, the shoulders threadedly engaged, as shown at It, or otherwise mounted upon the opposite end of the housing.

The housing forms a handle and the knob forms a grip by means of which the shaver may be conveniently and accurately manipulated over the contours of the operator's face.

The motor shaft l3 isprovided with an integral pillowv plate l'l'having a ring l8 of semi-circular cross section disposed on one face near the peripheral edge-thereof which ring fits in a similar shaped annular groove 19 formed in the outer face of the base block, these parts being bestshown in Figures 1 and 'l. The ring and groove form. an oil and dust check between the motor shaft and pillowplate, and also perform the additional function of properly aligning the parts. The motor shaft terminates in a square lug 20 below thepillow plate for attaching the rotary cutter to'the shaft.

The rotary cutter H is best shown in Figure 3 as a disc having on each face alternate radially disposedsegmental shaped flat surfaces 22 and segmental shaped shoulders 23, the longitudinal on one face ofthe cutter are of greater height than the shoulders on the opposite'face so that the cutter maybe reversed andeither face of the cutter selectively used to operate on beards of diiferent characteristics.

the shoulders.

It will; be noted that the segmental shaped shoulders 23extend diametrically beyond the alternate radially disposed segmental shaped flatsurfaces 22. This is for a two-fold purpose, first to provide apertures of escape for the refuse beard into the pocket, and second to provide cutting edges at the outer circumferential edges of Inthis connection it will be noted that the slots in the stationary cutter commence at the lower edge of the peripheral flange and extend downwardlyina rounded manner to form the flat portion of the stationary cutter, thus forming cutter bars on the edge as well as on the bottom. Thus the flange portion of the slots 21 form cutter bars thereat which, working in conjunction with the circumferential edges of the segments 23 provide cutteredges around the outer circum ference of the cutter to insure greater facilities in shaving'the more difflcult places on the face.

The cutter is provided on both. faces with an annular groove 25 formed in the shoulders to selectively receive a reinforcing ring of the stationary cutter as will be presently described and preserve the alignment of these parts while at the same time permitting of the parts being made thinner and of more rigid material than hitherto '-ceive the similar shaped projection on the bottom side center of the pillow plate and detachably, invertly mount the cutter on the pillow plate.

The stationary-cutter is in the form of a reticulate disc having two annular concentric series of slots 21 and 28, to admit the beard, and reversed in direction with respect to each other, as best shown in Figure 2. The slots of each series provide cutter bars between adjacent slots to coact with the rotary cutter. Between the inner ends of the outer series of slots and the outer ends of the inner series of slots the stationary cutter is provided with an annular reinforcing ring 29 of semi-circular cross section which, as heretofore stated, is received in the groove 25 on either face .of the rotary cutter. 'The slots of each series do not extend radially but are arranged at a predetermined angle to radius hues, as best shown in Figure 2, so that the beard entering the slots will be sheared of! by the rotary cutter, said shearing operation corresponding to the action of a pair of shears. The central portion of the stationary cutter is imperforate and is of sufiicient diameter to provide a working support 30 for the central portion of the rotary cutter, Figure 3, and the flush end of the squared projection in the center of the bottom side of the pillow plate on which the rotary cutter is invertly pillowed;

The stationary cutter is provided with a peripheral flange 3| which telescopically receives the closed end of the housing i and the latter is provided with outstanding lugs 32, best shown in Figure 5. These lugs are received in cam slots 33 and the tension between the rotary cutter and the stationary cutter may be increased or diminished by turning the stationary cutter to cause the lugs to ride from the high ends to the low ends, or vice versa, of the cam slots and retract or advance the stationary cutter with respect to the rotary cutter.

A; pin 34 is. substituted for one of the lugs 32, arranged a quadrant distance apart, and extends outwardly from the peripheral flange or casing,

as'best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The casing is provided withan openly slotted control lug 35 at the closed end and in line with one of the cam slots which receives an eye bolt 36, the eye of which encircles the pin 34 on which the eye bolt .pivots. A helical compression spring having a resiliency strength greater than the required tentension is maintained between the rotary and stationary cutters by means of adjusting nuts on the threaded end of the eye bolt, when the slotted control lug engages the eye bolt.

It will be here stated that the angle of incidence of the slots in the stationary cutter with respect to the segmental shaped cutting shoulders of the rotary cuttercis preferably 30 degrees to radius lines, and that the cutter bars between adjacent slots of thestationary cutter are'slight- 1y wedge shaped, the greatest width being at the outer ends, to compensate for the greater circumference at their outer ends with respect to the circumference at their inner ends.

It" should be noted that the flange 3| is an integral part of the stationary cutter and that the cam slots 33 and control lug 35 are integral parts of the flange.

For the purpose of this description these three integral parts are called the stationary cutter mechanism, and it is intended-toprovide this stationary cutter mechanism in duplicate units of exact design telescopically to engage the base block on the closed end of the'housing in an interchangeable manner. It is alsointended to provide each duplicate. unit with specially 'constructed cutters of different width and thickness and with slots between them of different width in order to provide a wider range of shaving equipment for diiferent types of beard,

' By referring to Figure 1 it will be notedthat the base block I i is beveled as shown at 38 to provide a pocket between the'base block and the flange of the stationary cutter for refusehair.

A conventional speed regulator 39 is mounted" a in the casing and also a conventional toggle switch 40 is mounted in the casing to control the motor circuit illustrated as wires 4| and, By reversing the motor from time to time the cut-- an ting edges of the stationary and of the rotary cutter may be self-sharpened. a

While the control shown in Figure 1 shows a hand re'versing. switch, it is to be understood that.

this invention is not restricted to' this manner of motor reversing control but thatiany conventional and satisfactory automatic'electric motor reversing control may be'substitutedfor the Jrand control. v a a Attachments that may be usedin connection with this invention for hair clipping as distin- ,guished from beard shaving areshown'in Fig- I ures 8, 9 and 10, These attachments consist of two parts, a specially constructed stationary hair clipper, a flange integral thereto with cam slots and a -control u-slotted lug integral with the r. flange which is also of special design, but interchangeable with the hereinbefore described stationary cutter mechanism as an attachment on -the baseblock at the closed end. of the housing, 40 as partly shown in Figure 8. l

a This stationary clipper attachment is provid ed with a crescent shaped series of.slots 44 arranged in a limited portion of the circumference of its bottom part as best shown in Figure 9.

45 The bars formed by these slots are acombination guards and clippers of the conventional .hair clipper. type that slantfrom the toe ,to heel as do conventional hair clippers-f That portion of the flange directly above the'crescent shaped clipper is cut away to permit free ingrefi of the ribs hair to beclipped, but having pitotec The spaced apart as best shown in Figure 10.

stationary clipper takes the place in all essential manner to the bottom clipper of a conventional hair clipper of a motor driven type. v The second clipper attachment is a rotary clipper as shown in Figure 10 having a centrally dis- I posed rectangular opening "to engage a-sim ai' shaped projection also centrally located on he 0 bottom side of the'pillow plate on' which plate it is interchangeable with the regular equipment. I

The ribs are combination guards and clippers essentially similar to the upper cutter in conventional power driven hair clippers, andudiilering 5 only that they are annular in shape and rotary in action, instead of'being rectangular in shape and oscillating in motion,

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation 'of the invention 7 will be fully understood without further exp'lanation.

What is claimed is;

1. An electric sha comprising a housing forming a handle, an e ectric motor in the hous 7 75 ing, a base block carriedby the housing and having a bearing opening, a shaftfor the motor projecting throug said opening, a pillow plate integral' with the shaft bearing upon the outer face of the block, an interfitting annular groove and ring between the block and the pillow plate 5 forming an oil and dust check between the shaft and the plateya rotary cutter secured to the shaft, and a static ary cutter secured to the housing.

2. An electric shaver comprising a housing, an'electricmotor in the housing, a base block 10 carried .by the housing having fa bearing opening, ashait for the motor projecting through said bearing opening, a pillow plate integral with the shaft and bearing upon the base plate, an interfitting groove and ring between the shaft and 15 pillow plate aligning the shaft properly, a rotary cutter removably secured-to the shaft in advance of the pillow plate, an interfitting annular groove through said opening, a rotary cutter secured to a the shaft in advance of the block,- a stationary cutter secured to the housing in advance of the 30 rotary cutter and having concentric annular.- series, of slots providing a reinforcing ring -between both series-and an interfitting groove and ring between said reinforcing ring andthe ro-' 'ta'ry' cutter. forming a combined oil and dust 36,

checlrand, aligning the rotary cutter with the hired cutter. Q

4. An electric shaver comprising a housing, a

base block in the housing havin a bearing open- I ing, a shaft for the motor projecting through said 40- motor, a rotary cutteron the shaft in advance of the block, a hired cutter confronting the rotary cutter, a flange for the'fixed cutter telescopically receiving the housing, interfltting cam projec- -"tions and obliquely disposed cam grooves between 45 the housing and the flange permitting of the fixed" cutter being advanced toward or retracted from the rotary cutter to vary the tension between the cutters, and means connected to the flange for locking the hired cutter in adjusted positions.- 5

5. An electric shaver comprising a housing, an electric motor in the housing, a base block in the end of the housing having a bearing opening, a shaft for the motor projecting through said opening, a rotary cutter on the shaft in advance 55' of the base block, the edge of the-base block being beveled outside of the cutter,.-a stationary cutter having a flange fixed to th .casing and coacting with the beveled edge of the base block in forming a pocket for refuse beard, alternately I disposed segmental shaped shoulders, and flat surfaces on the rotary cutter, the segmental shaped shoulders extending diametrically beyond the flat surfaces to provide apertures, for the escape of refuse iieard into the pocket and providingcut 6 ting, edges'at the outer circumferential edges of the shoulders. 6. 'An electric hair clipper comprising a housing forming ,a handle, an electric motor in the housing, a baseblocl carried by the housing and having a bearing opening, a .shaft'for' the motor, projecting through said opening, a pillow plate face of the block; arotary cutter secured to the having cam slots, cams on the housing engaging the cam slots for varying tension between the stationary cutter and the rotary cutter, said stationary cutter being provided with a crescent shaped series of slots arranged in the limited portion of the circumference of its bottom and forming bars to provide guards of the conventional hair clipper type, said guards being inclined relatively to the axis of the shaft, the portion of the flange above the crescent shaped clipper being cut away to permit free access of the hair to be clipped, and protecting ribs in said cut away portion.

7. An electric shaver comprising a handle member, ashaft rotatably mounted in the handle member, a disc-shaped stationary cutter detachably mounted on the handle member, a cooperat-' ing disc-shaped rotary cutter detachably secured to said shaft behind the stationary cutter, said rotary cutter adapted to rotate in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said shaft and formed on its opposite faces with alternate radially disposed segmental shaped shoulders and flat surfaces of progressively increasing width from their inner ends to the periphery of the rotary cutter, the shoulders being under cut to provide cutting edges in the planes of the outer faces of the shoulders and the latter being of greater depth on one face of the rotary cutter than on the opposite face, and the rotary cutter being reversible on the shaft to present the cutting edges of either set of shoulders to the stationary cutter.

8. An electric shaver comprising a handle member, a shaft rotatably mounted in the handle member, a rotary cutter mounted on the shaft and adapted to rotate in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said shaft, a stationary cutter secured to the handle member over the rotary cutter, said stationary cutter being formed with two concentric annular series of slots defining intervening teeth and an intermediate unslotted portion, said slots extending from the intermediate portion in equal angles less than ninety degrees, and the angular dispositions of the slots of one series being opposite to those of the other series.

CHARLES W. HAY. 

